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District projects modestly higher revenues but warns special‑education costs, rising insurance and state cuts will strain budgets
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Summary
Finance staff reported revenues slightly above projections and a projected ending fund balance inside board targets, but noted a multi‑million dollar special‑education funding gap and state legislative changes that reduce or delay K‑12 funding.
Ashley Murphy presented the district’s monthly enrollment and budget update and said total revenues were roughly $166,000 above expectations at the time of the report and that the district had identified about $1.8 million in expenditure savings so far this year. She said the district’s projected ending fund balance is just above the board’s 4–6% goal (about 5.5%).
Murphy and finance staff said federal revenues are trending about 4% above expected levels because the finance team proactively aligned staffing to federal program codes. At the same time, Murphy flagged rising costs that will pressure next year’s budget, including an estimated insurance increase of roughly $600,000 and ongoing MSOC cost growth. She noted these structural pressures are partly why the district has been drawing from fund balance in recent years.
The special-education deficit was a recurring theme across presentations: Jana Rush earlier cited a roughly $7.5 million gap between program costs and funding. Murphy emphasized that some pressures are planned and known, but that the legislature’s recent actions will make long‑term predictability more difficult.
Director David provided a legislative wrap‑up and criticized the recent session for cutting or constraining K‑12 funding through ESSB 6260 (referenced in the meeting) and related measures, and for putting potential new revenues (a 'millionaires' tax' referenced by bill number during remarks) into the general fund where they are not guaranteed for K‑12 until later years. He and other board members urged attention to long‑term funding stability as the district plans future budgets.
Board received the report; no formal budget action was taken at the meeting.
